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Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide and nicotinic acid amide, is the amide
Amide

In chemistry, an amide is one of three kinds of compounds:* the organic chemistry functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom , or a compound that contains this functional group ; or...
 of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3). Nicotinamide is a water-soluble vitamin
Vitamin

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be biosynthesis in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet....
 and is part of the vitamin B
B vitamins

The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in Cell metabolism. Historically, the B vitamins were once thought to be a single vitamin, referred to as vitamin B ....
 group. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is converted to niacinamide in vivo, and though the two are identical in their vitamin functions, niacinamide does not have the same pharmacologic and toxic effects of niacin
Niacin

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the Nutrition disorder pellagra. It is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5NO2....
, which occur incidental to niacin's conversion.






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Encyclopedia


Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide and nicotinic acid amide, is the amide
Amide

In chemistry, an amide is one of three kinds of compounds:* the organic chemistry functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom , or a compound that contains this functional group ; or...
 of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3). Nicotinamide is a water-soluble vitamin
Vitamin

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be biosynthesis in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet....
 and is part of the vitamin B
B vitamins

The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in Cell metabolism. Historically, the B vitamins were once thought to be a single vitamin, referred to as vitamin B ....
 group. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is converted to niacinamide in vivo, and though the two are identical in their vitamin functions, niacinamide does not have the same pharmacologic and toxic effects of niacin
Niacin

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the Nutrition disorder pellagra. It is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5NO2....
, which occur incidental to niacin's conversion. Thus niacinamide does not reduce cholesterol or cause flushing, although nicotinamide may be toxic to the liver at doses exceeding 3 g/day for adults. In cells, niacin is incorporated into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, abbreviated NAD+, is a coenzyme found in all living cell s. The compound is a dinucleotide, since it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups: with one nucleotide containing an adenine base, and the other containing nicotinamide....
 (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is used in anabolic reactions, such as lipid and nucleic acid synthesis, which require NADPH as a reducing agent....
 (NADP), although the pathways for nicotinamide and nicotinic acid are very similar. NAD+ and NADP+ are coenzyme
Coenzyme

Many enzymes require a cofactor for catalytic activity, accelerating the transformation of a specific substrate to a particular product. The inactive protein, without the cofactor is called an apoenzyme, while the complete enzyme with cofactor is the holoenzyme....
s in a wide variety of enzymatic oxidation-reduction
Redox

Redox describes all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation number changed.This can be either a simple redox process such as the oxidation of carbon to yield carbon dioxide or the reduction of carbon by hydrogen to yield methane , or it can be a complex process such as the oxidation of sugar in the human body through a ser...
 reactions.

Use in medicine


Nicotinamide has demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions which may be of benefit in patients with inflammatory skin conditions. These conditions include acne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a skin condition caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units . Severe acne is inflammation, but acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms....
, and the compound can suppress antigen induced-lymphocytic transformation and inhibit of 3'-5' cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Nicotinamide has demonstrated the ability to block the inflammatory actions of iodides known to precipitate or exacerbate inflammatory acne.

Animal studies show that nicotinamide has anti-anxiety (anxiolytic
Anxiolytic

An anxiolytic is a Medication prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety. Some anxiolytics have been shown to be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders as have antidepressants such as the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ....
) properties. It may work in a way similar to benzodiazepines.

Nicomide
Nicomide

Nicomide is an Acne vulgaris medication available in topical Cream , topical gel and vitamin supplement form. Tablets available by prescription only and contain the active ingredients nicotinamide, zinc, copper, and folic acid....
 (take note the naming similarity), is an acne medication, and in its vitamin supplement form, the most predominant ingredient is 750 mg of nicotinamide, based on this area of research.

Nicotinamide lacks the vasodilator, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and hypolipemic actions of nicotinic acid. As such nicotinamide has not been shown to produce the flushing, itching and burning sensations of the skin as is commonly seen when large doses of nicotinic acid are administered orally. However, nicotinamide can produce liver toxicity at doses above 3 grams per day. In overall, it rarely causes side effects, and is considered generally safe as a food additive, component in cosmetics and medication.

Nicotinamide is produced by the aqueous ammonolysis of 3-cyanopyridine (nicotinonitrile) and subsequent crystallisation.

Nicotinamide has been reported to restore cognition in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease , also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia....
 transgenic mice.

Nicotinamide has been reported to increase the endurance of mice.

Nicotinamide, or Vitamin B3, prevents immunosuppression
Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression involves an act that reduces the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immuno-suppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other conditions....
 caused by UVA and UVB radiation, and could be added to sunscreen.

Nicotinamide has been reported to be an effective skin whitener in topical application.

See also

  • Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
    Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

    Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, abbreviated NAD+, is a coenzyme found in all living cell s. The compound is a dinucleotide, since it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups: with one nucleotide containing an adenine base, and the other containing nicotinamide....
  • Nicotinamide riboside
  • Isonicotinamide
    Isonicotinamide

    Isonicotinamide is a chemical based on the nicotinamide structure, but in which the amide is in the 4-position and not the 3-position. It has the chemical formula C6H6N2O....


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